USA in the Autumn 2016 - Las Vegas #2

Twenty two year old American Alexios Helebian was Greg's first round opponent in qualifying for the Las Vegas challenger. Currently ranked slightly better than Greg at 589, left-handed Halebian will no doubt be a tough opponent but Greg will be confidently creating an upset if he performed, even though the wind was blowing a gale and making conditions very difficult and almost unplayable
It was Halebian who served first and it was the bigger server Greg who was having trouble adjusted to the windy conditions, even though he was serving at a high percentage. Halebian was able to break Greg to go 3-1 up and then held for a 4-1 lead. Greg rallied to get to 2-4 but then at 2-5, dropped his serve again to give Halebian the set 6-2.

American Alexios Halebian

With Halebian again serving first in the second set, both players concentrated on controlling their serves in the high wind and surprisingly held serve quite easily, only dropping 6 points between them in getting to 4-4. The wind was creating more problems for the players on their returns and ground shots, with balls propping, turning and shooting through unpredictably. Then Greg forced Halebian to deuce and then brought up break point, but Halebian held firm to get to 5-4 up. Greg held to love to level at 5-5, then again brought up two break point opportunities on Halebian's serve. But again Halebian denied him and held serve to go 6-5. Now the pressure was on Greg and he faced match point in the next game at 30-40, but he too was able to save and hold serve, to get the set to the tie-break at 6-6.
In the tie-break the players kept the score close, taking the points to set point at 6-5 in Greg's favour, with Halebian serving. Halebian denied Greg and brought up match point at 7-6 up, but on Greg's serve. It was Greg's turn to save to get to 7-7 and hold to go 8-7 ahead, and have another set point. This time he was able to break Halebian and pouch a desperately needed tie-break 9-7, and win the second set 7-6, to take the match into a third set.
The third set, with Greg serving set, went much the same way as that of the second set, except Greg was holding serve easier, serving at a higher percentage than Halebian, and eventually the pressure told, in Greg's favour. At 4-3 up, Greg was able to get Halebian to 15-40 and converted the opportunity to lead 5-3, and serve for the match. Halebian fought back, pegging Greg back from 30-0 to 30-30 but Greg responded, bringing up match point and winning the game, to win the set 6-3, and a closely fought match 2-6, 7-6(7).
A close call for Greg who saved two match points against him, but showed good mental strength to stay in the match and squeek out a win, in difficult windy conditions.